The Grand Island Police Department is set to improve its mental health care initiatives for officers with a substantial federal grant approved by the City Council. The grant, totaling $199,958 under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, will be allocated over the next two years to tackle mental health challenges and enhance wellness programs within the department.
Grand Island Police Chief Kevin Denney acknowledged that while progress has been made in addressing mental health issues within the department, significant room for improvement remains. “We’re doing better than we were 20 or 30 years ago, but we still have a long ways to go,” he stated.
The department employs a multi-faceted approach to officer mental health, featuring a robust chaplaincy corps, a peer support group, and the state-funded Cordico app, which all officers have access to. The Cordico app provides resources related to mental health, nutrition, and leadership development, aiming to promote overall well-being among officers.
One significant improvement highlighted by Denney is the department’s response protocol following traumatic incidents, such as multi-fatal accidents. Rather than immediately bringing officers back together, the department waits several days while maintaining contact. This allows officers time to process the incident individually. After a few days, they reconvene for a session led by a chaplain, providing a safe space for officers to discuss their experiences and feelings.
The implementation of group therapy sessions has proven beneficial in supporting officers over the years. Denney pointed out that one persistent challenge the department faces is the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among law enforcement personnel. “In policing, you have PTSD issues, which are compounding,” he explained. He contrasted this with military service, where crises often occur within a more defined timeframe, while police officers face ongoing stressors over time.
Denney emphasized the alarming rates of PTSD, suicide, and addiction within the law enforcement community, stressing the necessity of addressing these critical issues. The grant funding will facilitate a wellness program that conducts quarterly mental health check-ins for officers, aiming to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.
“The goal is that over the next few years, we take a little bit of the cloud off of mental health, especially here at the police department,” Denney stated. “We want officers to feel confident that they can reach out and get help before it becomes a crisis issue.” This proactive approach to mental health care is a crucial step toward fostering a healthier work environment for officers in Grand Island.
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